Eight former SpaceX employees have filed a lawsuit against the company and CEO Elon Musk, raising concerns about a hostile work environment. The lawsuit alleges that Musk engaged in conduct that objectified women and used lewd banter during their employment.
The lawsuit further alleges that the employees were wrongfully terminated in 2022 in retaliation for raising concerns about a hostile work environment.
According to the lawsuit filed in California, the employees documented their concerns in an open letter to SpaceX management. The lawsuit alleges that Musk then ordered the agreement terminated. The lawsuit also alleged that Musk fostered a work environment reminiscent of the Middle Ages, in which women were objectified and judged based on their “bra size.”
It is further alleged that he bombards employees with vulgar sexual humor and threatens those who challenge this ‘Animal House’ atmosphere with dismissal, implying that they should seek employment elsewhere if they feel uncomfortable.
The lawsuit alleges that Musk and other senior leaders participated in a video shown at a company party that downplayed sexual harassment. According to the complaint, one scene depicts Vice President of Human Resources Brian Bjelde in a scenario in which an employee is instructed on how to spank in a supposedly “proper” way.
“The filing of this lawsuit marks an important milestone in our quest for justice, holding leadership accountable and making responsible changes to workplace policies,” one of the plaintiffs, Paige Holland-Thielen, said in a statement.
Inappropriate actions
The lawsuit alleges a series of workplace violations at SpaceX, including a hostile work environment, retaliation, gender discrimination and wrongful termination. This contradicts a claim by a former Tesla employee, Cameron Sralla, who said they were not given specific instructions by Musk and were not pressured to work overtime.
On the other hand, a group of former SpaceX employees recently filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging they were retaliated against for speaking out about workplace concerns.
But that case has stalled. SpaceX has sued the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the agency’s enforcement process is unconstitutional. In May, a court granted SpaceX a temporary block, preventing the NLRB from making any progress for the time being.
This legal battle mirrors a similar case from last year. The NLRB filed its first formal complaint against a Musk-led company, accusing it of firing a software engineer, Yao Yue, for trying to organize workers against a return-to-the-office policy.
Sexual misconduct claims resurface ahead of Tesla Pay package vote
These developments regarding the NLRB case and employment practices are just one aspect of a broader situation at SpaceX. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal published a report outlining serious allegations against Elon Musk.
The report details allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female SpaceX employees, including an alleged sexual relationship with a former intern. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, said the employee left the company in 2013 and then accused Musk of asking her to have his babies more than once.
The Journal added that the woman reportedly turned down the offer and her working relationship with Musk deteriorated afterward, with sources claiming Musk also denied her a raise.
However, WSJ also reported that the SpaceX employee received an exit package worth more than $1 million when she left the company, according to a person familiar with the deal.
These aren’t the first sexual harassment allegations against Elon Musk, and he has previously denied them. However, these renewed allegations of sexual misconduct come at a critical time for Musk.
Tesla shareholders will vote tomorrow on his controversial $56 billion pay package, potentially giving him a significant increase in wealth.